Dan Rather Presents Neuroplasticity

Today HDNet™ is reshowing an episode of Dan Rather Reports called "Mind Science." It is an excellent review of neuroplasticity. It includes interviews with several leading scientists in the field. I especially enjoyed seeing Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel talk about his work with memory. (I talked about Kandel's work on the Brain Science Podcast in Episode 3 and Episode 12.)

"Mind Science" also features the Dalai Llama and scientist Richard Davidson talking about the evidence that meditation can change the brain. Rather interviews Sharon Begely about her book Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves (which I discussed in detail in Episode 10 of the Brain Science Podcast). Other scientists featured in the episode include Michael Merzenich on improving brain function as we age and Dr. Edward Taub on his revolutionary approach to stroke rehabilitation. (My show notes for Episode 10 include links for all the scientists interviewed by Rather.)

It was particulary gratifying to see Dr. Kandel endorse Ed Taub's Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy. Dr. Taub was interviewed in Episode 28 of the Brain Science Podcast.

If you don't get HDNet™ you can watch Dan Rather Reports on-line, via podcast or on Facebook.

Summary of relevant episodes of the Brain Science Podcast:

• Eric Kandel's work on Memory: Episode 3 and Episode 12


• Neuroplasticity: Episode 10 and Episode 26


• Interview of Dr. Edward Taub: Episode 28

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Comments

[Terry Kremin]

Great site bringing so much information to teh public, but in praising Kandel's LTP so highly, you forget that there are 3 'L's dealing with synaptic plasticity and EFFECTIVE memory and learning:
Long term potentiation,
Long term depression,
and Depotentiation.

Forgetting and not encoding can be as important as remembering in effective memory, and in some cases such as PTSD, addiction, and chronic pain, LTP may very well be the problem.

One current issue is Jowe Tsien promoting his NR2B overexpressing mice as 'superlearners'. Expression of this protein in the NMDA receptor complex seem to increase LTP and attenuate synapses' ability to depotentiate, hence faster and more permanent learning. But addiction researchers are finding that in addicted animals, one of the molecular changes is an increase in NR2B proteins in NMDA receptors. It's the case of being careful what you learn, and how permanently. (imprtant not just in addiction, but in many issues: racism, sexism, fanaticism, et al.)

True neuralplasticity lies in the ability to change synaptic strength in either direction. If it can only change in one direction, it isn't very plastic!

Thank you for keeping a very active site and for keeping this information out there for everyone!